Monday morning, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, an , sent two letters regarding the chaotic, politically-driven distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Florida.
Commissioner Fried wrote to Chairman James E. Clyburn, Ranking Member Steve Scalise, and bipartisan members of the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis encouraging investigation of alleged political favoritism and potential corruption in COVID-19 vaccine distribution under the Governor.
The letter references numerous “pop-up” vaccine events in wealthy communities tied to political allies of the Governor and donors to his campaigns.
In the letter Fried says, “Earlier this month, a “pop-up” vaccine distribution occurred in two affluent ZIP codes after “DeSantis … quietly contacted a campaign donor, a real estate developer whose company built Lakewood Ranch, a mostly Republican, mainly White master-planned community in Manatee County.” The distribution included a “VIP list” for vaccine access arranged by a local official and political ally of Governor DeSantis, now under investigation for potential abuse of power.“
In addition, Commissioner Fried wrote to Governor DeSantis asking him to exercise his constitutional authority to suspend Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who is currently under investigation for arranging a COVID-19 vaccine “VIP list” including herself and her family and friends.
The Governor has previously suspended local officials throughout his term.
“I hereby request that you immediately suspend Vanessa Baugh from public office. I expect that, despite her being your noted political ally, you will do so with all due haste in the name of Floridians denied vaccines whose lives hang in the balance, ” says Fried in the letter to DeSantis.